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Karen Human Rights Group

Torture and killing in Thaton District

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These photos were received by KHRG on September 25th 2012, and show the two villagers from Pa’an Township, Thaton District who were tortured by Border Guard Battalion #1014 soldiers on June 25th 2012 on suspect of being KNU intelligence. The photo on the left shows 52-year-old Saw R--- after his torture led to his death and, on the right, 67-year old Saw A--- who survived the torture.

On September 23rd 2012, a KHRG researcher met with Saw N---, 23, a source close to the family of one of the victims. Saw N--- described the torture and killing of Saw R---, 52, and the torture of Saw A---, 67, by Border Guard Battalion #1014 soldiers.

According to Saw N---, on June 25th 2012, Saw R---, a 52-year-old resident of M--- village, and Saw A---, a 67-year-old resident of H--- village, were going to give 55,000 kyat (US $63.88)[1] to Saw A---'s daughter, who was going to give birth.

When they reached T--- village, they met with Border Guard Battalion #1014 soldiers and were interrogated. The soldiers accused them of being KNU spies. Both men were beaten and pummelled repeatedly with the butt of a gun and sticks until they were unconscious. Saw A--- was seriously injured as a result of the torture and Saw R--- died from his injuries on the same day. According to Saw N---, Saw R--- died because he was tortured more.

According to Saw N---, Border Guard Battalion #1014 is based in Gyo Pin Seik village in Pa'an Township, Thaton District. The Battalion Commander is Bo Maung Chit and the Company Commander is Saw Tin Win. The soldiers who tortured the two men were from Saw Thaw Ma Na Company, which includes eight soldiers in total.

"Saw R--- (also known as) Saw S--- was accused of being KNU intelligence. While Saw R---, also called Saw S---, and his uncle, Saw A---, were going to [T--- village] in order to send [money] to a T--- villager, Saw A---'s daughter, who needed 55,000 kyat for giving birth, 8 soldiers from the company led by Saw Tin Win and the company led by Saw Thaw M'Na, which are under the control of Border Guard Battalion #1014, met with them in T--- village, and started questioning them. Eventually, after questioned, [the Border Guard soldiers] accused them of being KNU intelligence; then, [they] pummelled, beat and killed [Saw S---] using sticks and guns. After, Saw S---'s uncle, Saw A---, was pummelled and beaten, [he] was seriously injured."

- Saw N---, male, 23-years-old, M--- village, Pa'an Township, Thaton District (Received by KHRG on September 23rd 2012)

Despite the signing of a ceasefire agreement between the Burma government and the KNU in January 2012,[2] KHRG has continued to receive sporadic reports of incidents in which government and non-state armed groups (NSAGs) have attacked civilians.[3] Patterns of abuse documented by KHRG over the last 20 years show a link between increased military activity and increased distrust of civilians and accusation of military connections.[4]